An open letter to Sports Illustrated: Bama's back ... again!

Dear Sports Illustrated,

Thank you for the cover featured above. We appreciate your continued and diligent efforts to hex our rival. After all, every Auburn fan, to the man, remembers the last time you ballyhooed Bama on your cover. We can only hope that the effect of the above cover will be the same.

Yet we are somewhat surprised at your willingness to go so pro-Bama at this particular time. Do you not know that the Rev. High Priest Head Coach of Bama Footballdom Nick Saban says that Saturday night's thwarting of Clemson, however impressive --- and it was impressive --- was just one game? That the 24-Hour Rule was implemented and that said 24 hours has expired? That attention must, according to the Rev. High Priest Head Coach of Bama Footballdom, be turned immediately to Tulane and away from Clemson?

In short, you should tremble in fear. For when you run afoul of the Rev. High Priest Head Coach of Bama Footballdom, you can expect appropriate retribution. I'm guessing that, in a press conference where he lays his sights squarely on your writer, Austin Murphy, he'll compare your cover to "Dewey defeats Truman" or all those cover stories you guys did on Detroit Tigers Mark "The Bird" Fidrych. And, likely most emphatically, he'll draw parallels to George Plimpton's piece on Buddhist pitcher Sidd Finch and his 168 mph fastball.

I would suggest Mr. Murphy steer clear of the Rev. High Priest Head Coach's press conferences for the remainder of the year. In the case of a Bama loss, I would suggest he vacate the Central time zone --- perhaps the country.

Meanwhile, I think I speak for all Auburn fans when I say thank you!

Sincerely,

DG